Chapter 66: The Hero’s Tomb

"All of you will stay outside," Lilith said in a commanding tone while standing in front of the gate.

"B-but, elder sister, we all worked so hard to open the gate. We deserve to enter!" Kelvin said, while the others around him nodded repeatedly.

"Sigh... Do you really think I’m not letting you enter just so I can get all the rewards?"

"I-I didn’t say that..."

"But you were thinking that!" Lilith shook her head. "I’m saying this because it’s too dangerous. We are following an evil man inside, and he may have evil plans. You saw what happened earlier, right? So many of our people lost their lives. I don’t want that to happen again."

Kelvin and the others looked down in embarrassment. "I’m sorry, elder sister. We were too weak."

"I’m not blaming you. I just want to cut our losses as much as possible. All of us here are the most talented and promising people of our generation. Our country is counting on us. We can’t risk our lives just to get some rewards. It’s better for Chris and me to enter alone. That way, you will all stay safe."

Everyone nodded at her words. They felt embarrassed for doubting her earlier.

"I promise to share all the rewards, if any, once we exit the ruins. Okay?" Lilith added.

"What the princess says is right!" someone yelled out.

"Yes! The princess is amazing!" another one added.

"The eldest princess is magnanimous! We shall listen to the princess!"

Seeing that her words had finally gotten through to them, Lilith nodded before turning towards Chris, who was now standing beside her while holding Nathan’s hand.

"You give quite good speeches," he said with a smile.

"Thank you." She nodded awkwardly.

"Then, let’s go." He dragged Nathan along and stepped through the gate, followed by Lilith.

"Azreon, buddy, keep an eye out while I’m gone, okay? If there’s any danger around here, help them out!" he yelled as he entered.

*ROAR!*

"Now, do you have a name? What should I call you?" Chris asked the young man he was dragging.

The man shook his head. "It’s been so long that I don’t even remember it. Just call me Nathan. I quite like that name."

Chris nodded. "Then, Nathan, tell me about yourself. How did you enter this dungeon?"

Nathan looked at him for a moment but then decided it was best to tell him, though a strange glint remained hidden in his eyes. "Once the old war was over and the demons lost, I escaped here to hide. When I was at death’s door, I corrupted some insects with my demon energy in the hope that humans would enter the dungeon in the future, allowing me to possess them."

Chris observed his surroundings in the ruins while talking to Nathan. The place was cold and dark, and there was nothing interesting to see. Still, he would never lower his guard. His experiences had taught him to always stay alert for traps and dangers.

"So you were one of the survivors of the old war." Chris nodded. "Were you one of those who willingly allied with the demons?"

"Yes." Nathan nodded. "I wanted to become stronger, and that was my only way."

"Mhmm." Chris had expected such an answer. "Did you ever regret it?"

Nathan contemplated for a while before shaking his head. "At first, yes. But with time, I stopped feeling any emotions. Now I only care about my life."

"Oh? Your life? And not the demons?" He raised an eyebrow.

Nathan stayed silent. Chris didn’t push him as he carefully surveyed his surroundings.

He didn’t forget to keep an eye on Lilith, who was walking beside them and observing her surroundings.

From the beginning of their conversation, she hadn’t reacted at all, confirming his suspicion that she knew about demons and the old war.

He smiled. ’This is getting more and more interesting.’

Unbeknownst to Chris, Lilith was focused on something else.

’*That man is interesting, don’t you think? You should try to get closer to him.*’ Lilith heard an enchanting voice in her head. It sounded similar to hers, but more playful.

’What I do is none of your business,’ Lilith replied in her head, feeling annoyed.

’*But you were looking for more answers to your questions, were you not? If you stick with that man, you may find them.*’

Lilith stayed silent.

’*Think about it. He is much stronger than the others in your generation. Aren’t you interested in knowing why?*’

Lilith remained silent.

’*He controls a strange energy that can compete with and neutralize demon energy. Isn’t that interesting?*’

She remained silent again.

’*Hey, hey! Why are you ignoring me? Liliiiiiiiiiiith!*’

A vein bulged on Lilith’s forehead.

’Why don’t you just go back to sleep and stop annoying me? When I asked you for answers, you wouldn’t give me any! And now you’re tempting me to do something for your own enjoyment, all for the sake of getting answers that you already have!?’

’*Tsk, tsk. How could you speak so badly about me, my dear? I am merely doing what’s best for you. You will get your answers in time.*’

’Speaking badly about you is only natural. You are a demon! An evil demon!’

’*Now, now... We had this conversation before. You are technically a demon too.*’

’No, I’m not!’

’*Whether you wish to accept the fact or not, you and I are one. You are me, and I am you. Nothing you do can change that fact.*’

’I won’t believe your lies.’

’*Hahahahahahahahahahaha...*’

An enchanting laugh echoed in her mind.

’WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!?’

’*I’m laughing at you, silly. You couldn’t be more wrong.*’

’Then tell me. Explain to me what’s going on.’

’*Nice try, but no. It’s not the right time yet for that. But if you get closer to that man, I promise you will get some answers. You already see that there is something mysterious about him, don’t you? You already felt familiar with him the first time you saw him, didn’t you?*’

Lilith didn’t reply anymore. She looked at Chris with a strange expression.

Having followed her expressions this whole time, he naturally noticed that something was going on in her head. He also noticed her strange look.

"What is it?" he asked with a smile.

She shook her head. "Nothing."

He smiled and didn’t push it further. He was sure he would be getting some answers soon, so why rush it?

After a few minutes of walking, they arrived at another gate.

"So, how do we open this?" he asked as he looked at Nathan.

"I can open it, if you let me." Nathan glanced at the hand Chris was still holding tightly.

"Okay." He let go of his hand, watching as the man stepped towards the gate.

"You know, you shouldn’t trust him that much. He will definitely try to trick us." Lilith moved closer to him and whispered from the side.

He smiled. "And what makes you think I trust him at all?"

She looked at him strangely. "Why are you letting him go, then? He could activate a secret mechanism or something similar to trick us."

He just shook his head. "Let him try. He won’t be able to do anything anyway."

She couldn’t understand why he was so confident, but decided not to push it.

"By the way, princess, your smell is quite comforting. If you have anything more to whisper to me, I will gladly accept it," he teased.

Lilith looked at him in annoyance. "Are you usually this flirty? It’s annoying."

His smile remained as he shook his head. "Flirty? Trust me, I have no such intentions. I’m not sure if I’m suited for love anyway. It’s just that your smell is really comforting. I can’t help but think it smells oddly familiar, like I’ve felt it somewhere before."

Lilith looked at him strangely but stayed silent.

’*See? He likes our smell. It wouldn’t be that hard to get closer to him. What do you think?*’

’Just shut up!’ She stayed silent for a moment before continuing in her head. ’And I think you’re wrong. There is more to this man than meets the eye. He wouldn’t be that easy to get close to, I’m sure of it.’

’*Hahahahahahahahaha. I knew you were keeping an eye on him. Are you finally admitting you’re interested?*’

A vein bulged on her forehead as she decided not to continue talking to the annoying person in her head anymore.

*CRACK!*

"Fuck!" Nathan cursed as he held a broken lever in his hand.

"What is it?" Chris approached.

"This lever should open the door. Now it’s broken." Nathan shook his head.

’This idiot appears to be getting more and more useless.’ Chris thought to himself as he looked at the gate.

He took a step forward and coated his fist in dragon scales before punching with full strength.

*BOOOM!*

A hole was instantly blasted through the gate.

"There, let’s continue." He grabbed Nathan’s still-stunned hand before dragging him through the opening.

Lilith shook her head and followed from behind.

On the other side, he stopped in his tracks as he looked at the carvings on the walls around him.

’Well, color me impressed. Once again, the same carvings.’

’This is ancient elven language.’ Aura’s voice appeared in his head.

"I noticed," he said.

"What?" Lilith asked.

"Nothing." He shook his head before grabbing Nathan by the collar and lifting him off the ground.

"W-W-WHAT—" Nathan was startled.

"Now, little worm, care to explain why you lied to me? You said that you made these ruins, but as far as I can see, there was no way you could have created these carvings."

"T-T-THA—"

"Think carefully about what you’re about to say." His expression turned serious. "If the next thing that comes out of your mouth even slightly resembles a lie, you will die. And trust me, I’ll know."

Nathan shivered. "Okay! I admit it! I didn’t make these ruins, but I have lived here and explored them thoroughly! I am the only one who knows how to reach the artifact!"

He nodded. "Now, that wasn’t so hard, was it?" He placed Nathan back on the ground before waving his hand and trapping him inside a globe of his white energy—Gwenor.

"W-w-what are you doing!?" Nathan was visibly frightened.

"Just stay there like a good boy." He paid him no mind as he approached the carvings on the walls.

It wasn’t just symbols. There were pictures as well, similar to the ones he had seen before, all depicting a great war between humans and demons.

"What does it say?" he asked Aura.

"I-I-I don’t know!" Nathan yelled out.

"Just shut your mouth! I’m not talking to you!" he yelled back at him.

Nathan shivered and closed his mouth.

’It says that this place is the tomb of one of the heroes from the old war,’ Aura replied.

"A hero?" He raised an eyebrow.

’Ten heroes fought at the forefront of the old war, leading the army to victory against the demons and dying in the process,’ Aura explained patiently, though there seemed to be some sorrow in her voice.

"Ten heroes? Hmm... I think I saw a carving that showed ten figures fighting the demons on the battlefield."

’Where did you see that?’ Aura asked, her voice suddenly rising.

"In the same tomb where I learned Gwenor."

’That makes sense.’ Aura was silent for a moment before continuing. ’Maybe you will need to visit that place again.’

"What for?"

’To get more information, obviously. There has to be something there. Now that I’m with you, I can read the symbols.’

"That makes sense. Maybe in the future... But if a hero who fought on the human side was buried here, why does the gate outside require human blood to open?"

’I think that gate isn’t the original one. That acolyte over there probably changed it in the past.’

"Makes sense. So one of these heroes is buried here?"

’Yes. But you shouldn’t know more than that for now.’

"You shouldn’t know this, you shouldn’t know that... You people are really annoying these days."

’It’s for your own good. You’re not prepared.’

"Whatever... Does it say anything else?"

’No.’

He shook his head before returning to Lilith and Nathan.

She had been watching him strangely the whole time. She had naturally heard his words, and it looked like he was talking to someone.

’Does he also have a spirit inside him?’

’*Why don’t you ask him and find out?*’

’Do you think he would just admit to that so easily?’

’*It didn’t seem to me that he was hiding his conversation at all. He might tell you.*’